Hydrangea plant named `Frau Fujiyo`

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) named `Frau Fujiyo` which originated as a seedling from the inventor&#39;s controlled hybridization of the Hydrangea macrophylla cultivars `Madam Blumkock` and `Silver Edge` and is distinguished from its parents and all other varieties of Hydrangea macrophylla of which I am aware by the combination of the distinctive pigmentation pattern of its sepals which gives the florets a pin-wheel appearance; its compact growth habit; the ease with which it can be forced in a greenhouse; and its large, dense, long-lasting inflorescence having a strong peducnle which does not require staking for support, making it ideal for pot culture. Sepal pigmentation of individual Hydrangea macrophylla plants depends on the nutrients and pH of the growing medium. The sepals of `Madam Blumkock` are uniformly pink and the sepals of `Silver Edge` are uniformly red with a white edge.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of theSaxifragaceae family. The botanical name of the plant is Hydrangeamacrophylla (Thunb.). The varietal denomination is `Frau Fujiyo`. Thenew cultivar originated as a seedling from the inventor's controlledcrossing as pollen and seed parents, respectively, the varieties knownas `Madam Blumkock` and `Silver Edge` in Tochigi-Prefecture, Japan.`Frau Fujiyo` was discovered and selected as one flowering plant withinthe progeny of the stated parentage in a controlled environment.

`Frau Fujiyo` is distinguished from its parents and all other varietiesof Hydrangea macrophylla of which I am aware, by the combination of thedistinctive pigmentation pattern of its sepals which gives the florets apin-wheel appearance; its compact growth habit; the ease with which itcan be forced in a greenhouse; and its large, dense, long-lastinginflorescence having a strong peduncle which does not require stakingfor support, making it ideal for pot culture.

The naturally occurring colors of Hydrangea plants are either uniformlypink, blue or white depending on the pH and nutrients of the soil.Hydrangea plants having mixed white and pink or white and blue flowercoloring are relatively new and not in common use. The sepal color of`Frau Fujiyo` begins uniformly green and turns color starting at theouter tips of the sepals, and at maturity is predominantly colored withan irregular, white edge. As each floret matures, the color starts inthe tip of the green sepal, and simultaneously the color in the tipspreads down the center of the sepal and slowly spreads out towards thesides while the green color turns to white, resulting in each sepalhaving color the length of the center of the sepal and white sides. Thisgives each floret the appearance of a pin-wheel, and the inflorescenceappears to be composed of a multitude of pin-wheel florets. Thispin-wheel effect lessens as the inflorescence ages and the color spreadsout more to the sides, but it can be seen again in the very old bloomsthat develop chlorophyll as they fade and die. The sepal coloration ofthe seed parent `Silver Edge` is uniformly red with a white edge, andthe sepal coloration of the pollen parent `Madam Blumkock` is uniformlypink.

This new cultivar has been successfully asexually reproduced byvegetative cuttings under controlled environmental conditions at acommercial nursery in Tochigi-Prefecture, Japan, under the direction ofthe inventor over a ten year period from 1986 to 1996, with itsdistinguishing characteristics remaining stable.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings consist of color photographs that show thetypical plant form, including the inflorescence, foliage, and uniquesepal pigmentation pattern. `Frau Fujiyo` is shown with a pink and whitesepal pigmentation pattern, but a blue and white pigmentation pattern isalso possible by manipulation of the nutrient amendments and the pH ofthe growing meidum. The colors are represented as truly as possibleusing conventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1 is a view of the entire plant showing its form, compact growthhabit, dark green foliage, dense and large inflorescence, and uniquepin-wheel-like sepal pigmentation pattern.

FIG. 2 is a close-up view of a flower head illustrating the stages ofthe color changes occurring in the sepals as they mature.

FIG. 3 is a close-up-view of four individual florets at maturityillustrating the flat, overlapping shape of the sepals, the irregularwhite edges with color in the center of the sepals spreading lengthwiseto the apex, and the irregularly serrated edges of the sepals.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

`Frau Fujiyo` has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and day-length. Thefollowing is a detailed description of the new cultivar as forced underthe prevailing day-lengths at Half Moon Bay, Calif. under commercialgreenhouse conditions at a time appropriate for the sale of the cultivarin the spring. The color determinations were made with The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S.) Colour Chart.

THE PLANT

Origin: Seedling.

Parentage:

Seed parent.--Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb) `Silver Edge`.

Pollen parent.--Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb) `Madam Blumkock`.

Classification:

Botanic.--Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) `Frau Fujiyo`.

Commercial.--Florist Hydrangea `Frau Fujiyo`.

Form: Upright, compact shrub.

Height: Flowering shoots reach 28 cm. in a 4" pot.

Growth: Upright, vigorous growth habit; when forced to bloom ingreenhouse the addition of growth regulators is necessary to controlheight.

Flowerhead: Terminal; composite, rounded clusters of small florets;dome-shaped and dense; composed of florets carried on sturdy peduncles.

Stems: Lenticels are reddish on the stem; lateral buds are reddish;reddish coloration above leaf attachments sites.

Foliage: Abundant.

Size of leaf.--As large as 76 mm wide by 84 mm long.

Shape of leaf.--Elliptic with acute base and apex; margins are serrate.

Texture.--Glabrous; veins dominate on the underside of the leaf and aresunken on the leaf surface.

Color.--Upper side is R.H.S. 137 A (green group); under side is R.H.S.137 C (green group); veins are R.H.S. 145 C (yellow-green group).

Petioles.--24 mm long.

THE BUD

Form: Globose; with 4 to 5 connate petals. Buds in the very center ofthe inflorescence are non-sepalous. The majority of buds have sepals.

Size: 3 mm.

Aspect: Smooth.

Rate of opening: Buds with sepals opening more slowly than buds withoutsepals.

Color: Mature stage is R.H.S. 70B red purple group.

Arrangement: Borne on 4 to 5 branched panicles, usually 5.

INFLORESCENCE

Time of blooming: Forced in approximately 80 days at 19° C. nighttemperatures.

Form: Paniculate. Both sterile, sepalous florets and fertile,non-sepalous florets borne on same panicle.

Size of Inflorescence: Individual inflorescence size is dependent on thenumber of inflorescences per plant. The large inflorescences have beenmeasured with a 15.25 cm diameter, and a 45.75 cm. circumference on a 4bloom plant.

Shape: Spherical clusters of small florets; sepalous florets are flatand overlap one another. Sepals are persistent. Sepals elongate andmature as the inflorescence matures. Non-sepalous, are inconspicuous andhidden by sepalous florets. The inflorescence is dense.

Appearance: Showy.

Persistence: 4 or more weeks.

Fragrance: Faintly sweet.

Fruit: None.

Reproductive organs:

Stamens.--8 present. Pollen is white.

Stigma.--2 to 3 pronged stigma.

Sepalous florets:

Number of sepals.--4 to 5 sepals per floret, usually 4.

Aspect of sepals.--smooth.

Shape of sepals.--reniform with acuminate apex; edges often irregularlyserrate.

Size of sepals.--usually one large dominate sepal; two smaller but ofequal size, and one small. Largest single sepal measured 35 mm wide by30 mm long.

Size of one large 4 petaled floret.--51 mm. wide by 49 mm. long.

Coloration of sepals.--Sepal color varies according to the soil pH andnutritional amendments supplied. Predominately pink or blue with anirregular white edge from 3 to 7 mm wide. Usually 3-5 mm wide; amount ofwhite edge varies depending on the age of the flower and sepal locationwithin the flower; Pink Flower: R.H.S. red purple group 63B. Edge:R.H.S. white group 155D.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct hybrid plant variety of the Saxifragaceaefamily substantially as herein shown and described.